'Graet Goods'

Saint Augustine Musicians you HAVE to See!

By Georgia Rae Taylor

As the owner of Graet Goods, I get a front-row seat to the heartbeat of St. Augustine—and it sounds like late-

night guitar runs, keys that spill their stories, and a ocean surf dream you can’t quite shake. This town’s music isn’t

background noise; it’s the way we breathe. From Michael Jordan’s soul-deep blues that turn a quiet bar into church,

to Uncle Marty’s unapologetic, body-and-piano confessions, to the genre-bending spell of El Castillo, these are the

artists who make our small city feel vast. Consider this your invite to listen closer, linger longer, and let their songs

become part of your own St. Augustine soundtrack.

1. Michael Jordan describes his style as an “amateur attempt to make music that resounds with the audience.” As a

member of his audience, I hardly call what he is doing amateur (after all, he’s been playing the guitar for 29 years),

but what he does definitely resonates with the soul. He’s the kind of musician you stumble across in a bar and just

never forget. He credits Stevie Ray Vaughn as one of his biggest influences, saying “Stevie didn’t teach me how to

play the blues, he taught me how to extend myself into my instrument.” Michael does seem to become one with

his instrument when he plays, even playing in a unique way sometimes where he has his guitar on his lap and uses

it not only to strum, but also as percussion. It’s something you have to see for yourself.

You can catch him at Stogies every Sunday, 9-1pm, or check his Facebook for his full calendar.

2. By day, Uncle Marty might be cooking you a grilled cheese at Sarbez, but by night, he could be blowing your

mind from behind his keyboard. With a newly released album and EP that just dropped, now is a great time to

catch an Uncle Marty show. Sometimes he’ll be solo belting out his impassioned lyrics and hammering away at the

keys, other times he is joined by a backing band. When I see Uncle Marty play, I can’t help but think of Austin,

TX’s favorite musical weirdo, Daniel Johnston— they both pour their whole body into their keyboard and emotion

drips from every note and word. He has a few original albums available online for you to listen to and I call them

the soundtrack to my St. Augustine. He says he finds inspiration for his music within himself and his own life

experiences. His music is rich with imagery of small beachside towns and dancing at local bars.

I can’t help but feel at home when I listen to it and I think you will too.

3. El Castillo is definitely a St. Augustine’s supergroup. Each member stands alone with their own accolades, but

they come together to form the incredible sounds of El Castillo. Ben McLeod is the lead guitarist and he has

earned his place in the global music scene with his band, All Them Witches. The drummer, Mike Monahan, is

currently touring with Billy Gibbons, but he’s in so many local bands too like Sunchild and The Annie Dukes. Jon

Ward, the bassist, plays in Fortune Child, a local band that opened a tour for All Them Witches. When these guys

put their musical prowess together, it’s magic! Their most recent album is called “The Genre Bending Wonders of

El Castillo,” and that’s pretty much all you need to know. With a southwestern feel, reminiscent of outlaw music

like Marty Robbins paired with a surf rock undertone, this band is sure to transport you. You can catch them

playing around town, just give them a follow on Instagram to stay in the know with their shows.

"Loving Our Town" October 4, 2025